Core Structure
- Header (Name | Phone | Email | LinkedIn)
- Professional Summary (2–3 lines value proposition)
- Skills (Group technical + soft)
- Experience (Achievement statements, metrics)
- Education & Certifications
- Projects / Volunteer (if early career)
Achievement Formula
Verb + metric + impact + context. Example: Reduced processing time by 35% by automating invoice validation using Python.
Common Mistakes
- Listing duties instead of outcomes
- Overusing graphics (ATS parsing issues)
- Including salary expectations (unless asked)
- Typos & inconsistent tense
Localisation Tips
Keep date formats consistent; include relevant bilingual capability; avoid unnecessary personal data (marital status, NIC) unless strictly required.
Fast Improvements Checklist
- Convert paragraphs into bullet achievements
- Add measurable results (%, time saved, revenue)
- Remove weak verbs (helped, worked on)
- Align tense (past vs present)